Another RM79mil for works on Johor palace buildings

NUSAJAYA: The Johor state assem­-bly has approved an additional allocation of RM79mil for works invol­ving palace buildings this year in preparation for the Ruler’s coronation.

State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohamad said that RM64mil of the allocation would be obtained via a soft loan from the Federal Government while RM15mil would come from the state.

The amount provided under the Supplementary Supply Bill passed on Monday is additional to the RM25mil earmarked earlier for pa­lace buildings this year.

According to the estimates, RM177mil was needed for the maintenance of palace buildings between 2011 and 2015.

Between 2011 and 2013, a total of RM97.4mil was spent.

The assembly approved allocations of RM10mil for minor projects of the state Public Works Depart-ment, RM8.6mil for works related to the Mentri Besar’s office and RM3.9mil for local council projects.

A supplementary expenditure of RM5.7mil was also approved with RM4.4mil going to the state Social Welfare Department.

The coronation of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar was initially slated for May 5 but was postponed due to delays in the restoration, renovation and refurbishment works at Istana Besar and Istana Bukit Serene.

No new date has been set but it is believed that the coronation could be held either at the end of the year or early next year.

The coronation will be held at Istana Besar while Istana Bukit Serene has traditionally been the Ruler’s residence.